For today, links to seven reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 5-13-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA, UKRAINE, YEMEN and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Trump meets Syria’s rebel leader Sharaa, urges him to establish ties with Israel. From Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia today and urged him to normalise ties with long-time foe Israel, after a surprise U.S. announcement that it would lift all sanctions on the Islamist-led government. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Middle East Eye.

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FROM MAY 13  Trump announces lifting Syria sanctions, by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday to applause and a standing ovation during a speech in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Reuters.

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Syrians celebrate U.S. plan to lift sanctions, by Ayah El-Khaldi | Middle East Eye  Syrians took to the streets and flooded social media platforms on Tuesday following an unexpected announcement by US President Donald Trump that all American sanctions on Syria would be lifted. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to a report from AlterNet and to commentary from Jonathan-Cook.net via Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking their names below. (MEDIA 5-7-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA, UKRAINE, YEMEN and SYRIA entries for this date  are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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N.Y. Times publisher warns Trump waging ‘frontal attack’ on free press, by Ailia Zehra | AlterNet  “Since 2016, the number of countries deemed to have a ‘good’ record of protecting press freedom by Reporters Without Borders dropped by more than half,” Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger wrote in an op-ed in the newspaper on Tuesday. “Effectively, in his first term President Trump exported his anti-press rhetoric to illiberal leaders abroad.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 12  BBC mystifies starvation in Gaza, by Jonathan Cook | Jonathan-Cook.net / Consortium News  The BBC and its Verify service are not keeping viewers informed. They are propagandising them into believing a clear crime against humanity by Israel is, in fact, highly complicated geopolitics that audiences cannot hope to understand. READ MORE . . .

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There is no UKRAiNE entry for this date.

For now, links to seven reports: from Reuters, Anadolu Agency, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and the Cradle; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA 5-12-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  9/11 TRUTH and SYRIA entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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WHO warns of permanent impact of hunger on a generation of Gazans, by Emma Farge | Reuters  GENEVA — Malnutrition rates are rising in Gaza, emergency treatments to counter it are running out and hunger could have a lasting impact on “an entire generation,” a World Health Organization official, Rik Pepperkorn,  said today. READ MORE . . .

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Israel resumes attacks on Gaza hours after U.S. captive released, by Ramzi Mahmud and Mohammad Sio | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine / ISTANBUL  — The Israeli military resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip late Monday, killing a Palestinian woman and critically injuring a child following a temporary lull so Hamas could release Israeli American soldier Edan Alexander. The shelling targeted . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hamas releases U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. Reported by Daniel Estrin and Leila Fadel | NPR  Hamas released dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander on Monday thanks to a direct deal between Hamas and the U.S. Now, the U.S. is jumpstarting talks to try to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MAY 12  Hamas released the last U.S.-Israeli citizen believed to be alive and held hostage, by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  TEL AVIV — Hamas has released U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier raised in New Jersey. He is believed to be the last living U.S. citizen who had been held in Gaza by Hamas since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. His  release was brokered in a deal between Hamas and the U.S. READ MORE . . .

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UN agencies warn that Israel’s plans for aid distribution will endanger lives in Gaza, by Jamey Keaten, Wafaa Shurafa and Sahah El Deeb | AP  KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — International aid agencies warned Friday that Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza, including a U.S.-backed proposal, will only increase suffering and death in the devastated Palestinian territory, calling on Israel to lift its blockade on food and other supplies, now in . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 12  Gaza market massacre: ‘My son was stolen from me,’ by Ahmed Dremly | Middle East Eye  GAZA CITY, Palestine  Noah al-Saqa, 10, dreamed of becoming an architect to help rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip. His birthday was May 6. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 10  U.S. abandons ‘Hamas disarmament’ demands in Gaza truce talks: report. From the Cradle. “U.S. negotiators conveyed to Egyptian intermediaries that the issue of Hamas’s disarmament could be addressed at a later stage, rather than being an immediate requirement for a ceasefire agreement,” the Qatari-owned news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

There is no UKRAINE entry for this date.

For today, links to two reports from Boston 9/11 Truth; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. These two provide examples of social science and physical science realities, respectively, in the truth movement — both largely ignored by mainstream and “alternative” media organizations.  (9/11 TRUTH 5-4-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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FROM APRIL 17  Diana Castillo. From Boston 9/11 Truth. The co-founder of a group in Madrid promoting renewed investigation of the mass-murder events of Sept. 11, 2001, in the United States describes her work since 2006 in Spain, Florida, and Washington, D.C. Click HERE for intro and video including Q&A.

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FROM APRIL 3  Gerry from Scotland. From Boston 9/11 Truth. Scottish investigator known here only as Gerry goes through highly technical documents — many gratefully obtained from NIST (National Institute of Science & Technology) itself — to explain why NIST’s reports of the World Trade Center building collapses on Sept. 11, 2001, are fraudulent. Click HERE for intro and video including Q&A.

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There is no UKRAINE entry for this date.

For today, links to two reports from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (SYRIA 5-9-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and 9/11 TRUTH entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 11  Sectarian massacres continue in Syria as government-affiliated groups kill several in Latakia. From the Cradle.  Extremist armed groups affiliated with the Syrian government on Saturday carried out a new massacre in Syria’s Alawite majority coastal region. In this massacre at least nine civilians, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed in the village of Ain al-Sharqiyah near Jableh, in Latakia province. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 12  Syria’s de facto president to skip Arab League summit in Iraq: report. From the Cradle. Syria’s self-appointed interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa will not attend the upcoming Arab League summit in the Iraqi capital, according to an Arab diplomatic source who spoke with AFP on Monday. In his stead . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, a link to a report from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK 5-10-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel to take full control of land registry in West Bank’s Area C, cementing annexation, by Lubna Masarwa and Rayhan Uddin | Middle East Eye  JERUSALEM / LONDON — Israel’s cabinet has for the first time voted to take sole responsibility for land registration in Area C of the occupied West Bank, a decision that has been described as effective Israeli annexation of the majority of Palestinian land. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to nine reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and the Cradle; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-10-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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NEWER  Hamas says it released American-Israeli hostage in goodwill gesture toward Trump administration, by Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Tia Goldenberg | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An American-Israeli soldier held hostage for more than 19 months in the Gaza Strip was released today, Hamas said, in a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 11  Ten weeks into Israel’s aid blockade in Gaza, desperate families grind lentils for flour. Reported by Carrie Kahn, Anas Baba and Daniel Estrin | NPR  Families in Gaza have begun grinding up lentils and beans to add to the meager flour they have to make bread. Click HERE to listen and read.

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The U.S. has a plan for getting food into Gaza. Top aid groups object to the idea. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  Daniel Estrin | NPR  TEL AVIV — The U.S. and Israel have announced a plan to allow food and essential supplies back into Gaza after a ten-week Israeli ban that aid workers say is driving rampant hunger in the territory. It is the result . . . Click HERE to read more and listen.

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Hamas set to free U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, but Israel says no ceasefire, by James Mackenzie | Reuters  JERUSALEM — Hamas will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander from Gaza on Monday, the Palestinian militant group said, but Israel’s prime minister said there would be no ceasefire and plans for an intensified military campaign would continue. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from NPR, AP and the Cradle. 

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FROM MAY 11  Pope Leo XIV appeals for ‘no more war’ in first Sunday message, by Joshua McElwee, Philip Pullella and Keith Weir | Reuters  VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV appealed to the world’s major powers for “no more war” in his first Sunday message to crowds in St. Peter’s Square since his election as pontiff — calling for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AP.

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 5-10-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russian drones attack Ukraine after the Kremlin turns down a ceasefire proposal but promises talks, by Illia Novikov and Dmytro Zhyhinas | AP  KYIV — Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said today, after the Kremlin effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than three-year war, but reiterated that it would take part in possible peace . . . READ MORE . . .

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Moscow pushes back on ceasefire calls. From Kyiv Post. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented today on the West’s demand for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, saying that the language of ultimatums is unacceptable to Russia. Adopting such a tone, he said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine gears up for possible Zelensky, Putin talks, by Chris York and Oleksiy Sorokin | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine is “ready for all options” as it prepares for a possible meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin of Russia in Istanbul this week, a source close to the President’s Office said today. READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin reiterates Putin’s call for Istanbul talks, but remains silent on possible Zelensky meeting. From the Moscow Times. The Kremlin today repeated President Vladimir Putin’s call for direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul later this week, but did not say whether the Russian leader would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in person. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate Kotlyarovka community in Donetsk region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Kotlyarovka in the Donetsk region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 11  Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza in symbolically rich blessing on Mother’s Day, by Nicole Winfield and Giovanna Dell’Orto | AP  VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff. “I, too, address the world’s great powers by repeating the ever-present call ‘never again war,’” he said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. READ MORE . . .

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There will be no entries today. — MCM

For today, links to a report from the Craadle and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (YEMEN 5-8-25 is HERE, or scroll down,  GAZA, LEBANON, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.)  — MCM

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FROM MAY 9  New Yemeni attack targets Israel as airlines extend flight suspensions. From the Cradle. The Yemeni Armed Forces launched a new ballistic missile attack against Israel on Friday, setting off alarms across large areas of the country and shutting down operations at Ben Gurion International Airport. READ MORE . . .

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What did Houthis achieve in 18 months of attacks on the Red Sea? From Middle East Eye.  LONDON / SANAA — Over the course of 18 months, the Houthis, who rule large swathes of northwestern Yemen, including the capital, carried out attacks on over 250 military and commercial ships. Fearing bombardment, vessels travelling from Europe to Asia . . . READ MORE . . .

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